How to Match a Tie to a Checkered Dress Shirt

The solid color dress shirt is most popular for several reasons. First of all it is easiest to match - especially classic whites or light blues. Secondly, it is conservative, classy, and will fit a wide range of dress codes, functions, and occasions. Finally, solid white dress shirts are more durable and can be cleaned using bleach and other chemicals. They can also be starched without showing excess starch build up - a great benefit for those who prefer a crisper look of collars, cuffs, and placket. Although the patternless shirt is popular, sooner or later most men want to experiment with more patterns and colors. Below are a few tips on how to match a check patterned dress shirt to suit and tie.

The Right Suit
When pairing different patterns on suit, shirt, and tie you want to start out by picking the largest clothing item first, and then work yourself down to the smaller accessories such as neckties, pocket squares, shoes, and cufflinks. If the suit is patternless then wearing a check pattern dress shirt is no problem as long as the colors work together. Suits with patterns on the other hand need to be looked at more carefully before pairing it with a checkered shirt. As a general rule, make sure that the patterns are different in size and shape. Wearing a suit with window pane checks in combination with a checkered dress shirt can create a confusing and "too busy" look. Excellent are suits with pin stripes, or finer herringbone or birds eye pattern.

Picking a Tie
Once you found the right suit for the dress shirt place the jacket and the shirt on a table to see how the colors and patterns harmonize. This will create the canvas for the necktie. Before picking any tie out of your closet think about colors. A red "power tie" makes a more bold statement while navy and burgundy are more conservative. Pastel colors such as Pink, Lime, and Light Yellow are excellent for the spring and summer while darker shades such as brown, gray, and dark shades of orange are best for the fall and winter season.

Once you decided on a color think about patterns. Once again, make sure that the pattern on the tie is different in size than the check pattern of the dress shirt. Striped ties are less suited but ties with polka dots, paisley ties, or fine foulard patterns are excellent choices. If you can't make up your mind then you always have the choice to pick a solid color tie.

Pocket Squares & Other Accessories
The same rule applies for matching the pocket square to the rest of your outfit: Make sure to pair patterns that are different in shape and size. Also think about the overall look of your outfit. A classy Italian cut suit with fine pin stripes might look best with a solid white pocket square folded with the "Flat" or "Presidential Fold. For more tips you may also want to visit our guide on How to Fold a Pocket Square.

Courtesy of : Mens Fashion Blog-Style Trends 2010